A/N: The somewhat anticipated return of Nights At Honey's. Thanks to everyone for reading and commenting. I'm glad you're enjoying it so far!
"Mr. Deeks!" Kensi called out as she crossed the street. He turned, halfway through a stretch, his expression one of surprise before he smirked.
"Agent Blye, I know I said you could change your mind, but at least wait until I get to the club," he said. It took Kensi a minute to figure out what he was implying, her mind focused on securing the area, and when she did, she gasped, mouth dropping open. Grinning even wider, he tucked his thumbs into the waistband of his shorts, rocking back on his heels. "I mean I get it, I'm a catch."
"That is-I wasn't." She clenched her fists behind her back, silently reminding herself that she could not punch him like she tended to do with Sam and Callen when they annoyed her. "I need to talk to you."
"Clearly."
"No, this is serious, Mr. Deeks. You might be in danger," Kensi told him. Taking in her expression, his smile shifted immediately.
"What's going on?"
"So you're trying to tell me that some woman is killing male strippers?" Deeks repeated several minutes later. Kensi had explained the situation as succinctly as she could while quietly urging him into his apartment.
It had taken significantly longer than she expected because Deeks kept asking questions. They were good, intelligent questions and further proof that he would make an excellent lawyer, but they ended up making Kensi feel like she was being interrogated. Plus, it annoyed her that he didn't just accept her at her word. She was used to most people respecting her badge and title to a certain extent.
"Aren't the four men, including your friend, enough proof for you?" He frowned at that, looking vaguely bothered by the question.
"Have a seat," he suggested distractedly, pointing to a surprisingly clean, if slightly out-of-date couch. As he spoke, he stripped off his soaked t-shirt and rubbed the sole dry spot at the bottom over his unruly hair. Kensi followed the movement for a few seconds before she caught herself, hoping that he hadn't noticed her wayward glance.
"Ok, what do you need me to do?"
"Well, for now we just need to keep you safe. Agents Hanna and Callen will probably want to talk to you."
"Keeping me safe is a pretty vague descriptor. I don't like vagueness or ambiguity," he told her, crossing his arms over his bare chest. He seemed to have zero sense of the effect he was having on her every time he shifted or revealed a patch of sun-bronzed skin.
"I'll be your shadow for the foreseeable future. You'll need to come in for questioning as soon as possible and–"
"I have classes in an hour." Deeks shook his head. "I want to help you, but I can't risk losing participation or assignment points."
"I thought you have high grades," Kensi said, realizing a little too late that she was revealing more than she should have.
"I do. But at this level, a couple missing assignments or downgraded letter grades are the difference between graduation and getting dropped from the program," he explained. He flicked a glance her way, a stubborn gleam filling his eyes. "I've worked hard to get to this point and I can't mess it up. I'm sorry, Agent Blye."
Although Kensi was tempted to threaten him with arrest if he didn't cooperate, she had a feeling that he would easily counter her attempts with his knowledge of the law. Holding back a sigh, she said,
"Fine. I'll have someone from the office call your university and tell them you're assisting with a federal investigation. They shouldn't penalize you for any absences." Deeks started to speak, but she cut him off, anticipating his next concern. "And I'll make sure my colleagues don't reveal anything about your current line of work. Ok?"
"Fine. Give me a few minutes to clean up and change," Deeks said, walking off before she could protest. "There's some leftover lasagna in the fridge if you're hungry."
Kensi shook her head, somehow simultaneously amused and annoyed. Once again, he'd managed to turn the situation on its head and took complete control. What was even more irritating was the fact that she found it ever so slightly attractive.
As Deeks showered, she didn't take him up on his offer of lasagna, but she did take the opportunity to explore his apartment a little more. It was clean, fairly ordered-aside from several piles of books, papers, and what seemed to be college related paraphernalia scattered around-and almost homey. Definitely more than she expected a 20-something college student and significantly neater than her own apartment. He had sparse furnishings; a few throw rugs covering the hard wood floors, the couch, and couple tables.
A surfboard, not the one she'd seen him carrying the night before, leaned against the far wall, next to a well-used guitar. She bypassed those to check out a small collection of pictures almost hidden on a table in the corner.
One featured what looked like a teenaged Marty Deeks with either arm wrapped around a brown haired boy and a blonde girl. His smile was huge, almost dazzling, and Kensi's upper lip lifted in response. In the next he wore a graduation cap and gown and stood next to a short blonde woman. Kensi saw a faint resemblance between the two, but before she could look closer, she heard the smack of dap feet on wood.
Quickly straightening, she returned to the center of the room, folding her hands expectantly as Deeks returned. He'd changed into jeans and a long-sleeve T, his hair still wet and sticking to his temples. He grabbed a pair of shoes from the mat hear the front door, glancing up at Kensi from beneath his bangs as he slipped them on.
"So where exactly are you taking me?"
"We have a special headquarters where we conduct interviews," she told him, heading for the door.
"Sounds fancy," he commented, pausing to grab his keys and phone as he followed after her. "Like something from a Nancy Drew book."
"You know, I was expecting something a little more high-tech when you said 'headquarters'," Deeks commented when they pulled up outside the boat shed.
"It's out of the way and no one would ever expect it to be part of a federal agency," Kensi explained with a touch of defensiveness in her voice.
"That's for sure. Hey, do you have a protein bar or something? I haven't eaten anything since breakfast."
Sighing, Kensi reluctantly reached across him to yank open her glove compartment and grabbed a half-eaten packet of Reese's. She grudgingly tossed them onto Deeks' lap. She wasn't a fan of sharing her snack stash, but if it kept him from complaining, she would make the sacrifice.
"Um, thanks," he muttered, plucking at the packaging with an amused quirk to his lips. God help her if he was another health nut like Sam.
"Do you want it or not?" She held out her hand, but he shook his and pulled out the single candy inside.
"No, this is great."
"C'mon, Agents Hanna and Callen are waiting for us," Kensi prompted him as he ate his improvised lunch.
When they walked in, Sam and Callen were sitting at the long table in the main room, in the middle of a conversation which they immediately cut short.
"Marty Deeks, this is Agent Sam Hanna and Agent Callen," Kensi introduced them. Deeks offered his hand to each of them, projecting a courteous but in control demeanor. She noticed Sam's eyes flick up to Deeks' hair for a moment and remembered his comments a couple days ago. The next few minutes would certainly be interesting.
"I'm sure Agent Blye informed you of the current situation," Callen said and Deeks shrugged.
"If you mean that an unknown woman is hypothetically killing male dancers and you think I might be her next target? Then yes," Deeks responded. "Do you have any idea who this woman is or why she might be targeting these men?"
"We're following some leads." It was a non-answer and Kensi sighed internally, remembering Deeks' comment about not liking vagueness. "For now we have a few more questions." Callen gestured to the interrogation room, but Deeks crossed his arms and didn't budge.
"Actually, I have a few questions of my own before we go anywhere."
"You're not in charge here, Mr. Deeks," Sam told him, crossing his own arms. "Either you cooperate or we'll arrest you for refusing to cooperate with a federal investigation."
Surprisingly, Deeks smiled. It wasn't a pleasant smile by any means; there was an edge to it that made Kensi distinctly uncomfortable.
"First of all, Agent Hanna, people far more terrifying than you have tried to intimidate me. You don't' really scare me that much," Deeks started, his voice even and almost light. Kensi somehow believed every word he said. Sam eyebrows rose briefly, but he didn't back down.
"I'm sure stripping is an extremely dangerous profession." His tone was scathing, derisive. If Deeks was bothered by it he didn't show it at all.
"Mm, try being rushed by 20 drunken, amorous women while you're dressed in nothing but tear away pants."
"This isn't a joke."
"I fully realize that," Deeks said calmly. "So, moving onto my second point, if you do attempt to charge me for interfering with your investigation or any other trumped up and completely unjustified charges, I will file a suit. I may not have passed the bar yet, but I do know the law and I have some important acquaintances who would gladly take on my case. Which would only delay you finding your murderer and I'm sure none of us wants that."
Kensi bit her lip to keep back a smile, genuinely impressed that he was willing to stand up against Sam. It was a dangerous move, but certainly impressive. As was his well-constructed threat.
"I don't think that will be necessary," Callen interceded, shooting Sam a quick warning look while Deeks. After a moment of tense silent, Sam nodded and Callen continued, "We can conduct the interview in here. And I'm sure we can answer any questions within reason. Is that agreeable to you, Mr. Deeks."
"For now." Deeks tugged out a chair using the toe of his shoe and sat down, crossing his legs at the ankles. "Oh, and I need to be at work by 6. I have the night shift and the ladies will be extremely disappointed if I'm not there."
Kensi sighed under her breath. She had a feeling this was going to be an extremely long case.
A/N: I hope you enjoy lawyer Deeks making an appearance.